Trolley wire support



June 23, 1942. s. s. MATTHES TROLLEY WIRE SUPPORT Filed Jan. 16, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l Zhwentor JAMUEL JMUTHEJ (Ittotneg Jum 23, 1942.

5. S. MATTHES TROLLEY WIRE SUPPORT Filed Jan. 16, 1940 1 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 attorney,

Patented June 213, 1942 UNI STAT-ES FATE NT OFFICE IRO'LLEY WIRE SUPPORT Samuel S. lI/Iatthes, Mansfield, Ohio, assignor to TheohioBrass Company, Mansfield, Ohio, a corporation or New Jersey Application. January is, 1940. -Se1'i2tl N0. 314;118

-My inventionrelates to supports :ior trolley wires and particularly trolley iwiresi'on curves when employed in overheadconstruction:for trolley bus-operation,

One object of :my invention .is *to provide ta simplified construction which will beLlight'Jyet strong, and which will avoid the use of. aplurality of supports with their many .cross wires and will permititheuse.oi -continuous trolley wires.

Other objects and benefits wilibetevidentas I proceedwith-the disclosure of my -invention.

My invention comprises the new and novel construction, --oombination and .relationof .parts hereinafter described and show-n "inf-the drawings accompanying I this specification.

In thehraWings:

Fig. "1 --is-a'-top plan :view of imy inventioniarranged for two trolley wires.

Fig. 2 is. a -f-ront view in elevation of( my invention.

-Fig. 3 is a back view in elevation of: vm Jinvention. I

Fig. 4 is an enlarged top plan view of the strain platewh-ich .I employ.

--Fig. 6 is-a section of Eigx i on the vIline 6-6.

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 1-4 of I Fig. '..1.

Fig. 8 isa partial section on thelinea'B-Bzoi Fig. 1.

Fig.Qisasideviewof a trolley wire tip which I- employ,

In the preferred embodiment of my invention, I provide a cur'ved longitudinal .and -adjustable bar I, preferably of flat, rectangular metal, -in which one edge aots' as aguide for 'a current collector in crossin'gnthe support. The b'ar; is provided at each end w-ith a clevis orothermeans -to receive or-hOldatrolly -wire tip- 2,-Fig. -9. The clevis at eachend ofthe bar-is shown as having two'pair of holes, the holesof-eachpair registering and also registering with holes inthe tip 2 to receive'transverse holding means-'3 to secure the bar and tips together.

Secured'to the bar "I adjacent its longitudinal center is a strain .p'latetprovide'd with alongi=-' tudinalportionfiilandtransversely disposed arms 6. Thearms and-intermediate portion?! have a groove 1 therein tmreceive the trolley wire 8. Projecting lugs-9 and=cotter-pins I-II -act.-=as a safetymeans to: prevent displacement-of the wire 8. The igroovel is curved substantially to that ofthe'trolle'y 'wire, taking.into consideration that the curvature of the' wire willvary some from'a normal or intermediate curvature. The arms% 6 and groove :1 areshownias at or near one end of the plated.

The ends of the :plate portion 5 are provided with holes IT'I and I2 to which supporting means for the'devicemay be attached.

The'plate 4 is also.- provided with longitudinal- 1y aligned holes I3a, I31 I30, and I3d to receive the supporting 'studand nut I4 of the bar I. This stud is welded'totheupper edge of the bar I adjacent its longitudinal center and projects through the .plate'4"and"may be placed in any one of the holes I3a to I3d inclusive depending uponthecurvature requirediofthebar I. The nut holdsrthe stud-and'bar in adjusted-relation to the. plate.

When it is desired to vary the curvature of the bar I during installation or after the device has been. in service; or. to: adjust: theispacing between the-tconductorszsfl itzis T-OIIIY'IIIGCBSSHIY 'to position the studiandsniit 1T4 inianjypne :of theoh'oles 13a to 5 I 3d incl1i;sive"vvhich effect a proper curvature of the bar liwhich issubstantially flexible tozperrnitibendmgrwith' relative ease junder. manualforce.

'I'o prevent a :tfly'ing :tro'lley :head lbecoming IOdged betWeenLthe:trolleymired! andzthecbar I, Ipr'o'vide deii-ectors rIfi which are .prefera'blyvflat bars-of metal an'ehored at one endttoiithe, plate 4 and at the other end tothe trio'lleyiwire'zby means of the clamp shown-in sectioninilrigniiiarid. comprising:ar-grooved' washerI 6 ands -boltianduinut I 1 whereby the wire is clamped betwe'en .the ..deflector I 5 and waisher' IB. This arrangement holds the trolley wire'lagainst movement longitudinally relativ'e to the 'support.

' The trolley wireacts as a :continuous tension rod extending betweentheehds =of the bar I and, thereforal am able to offier :asimplified device which is light and strong and-rrelatively easy to install.

"I'he'end tips '2 are arranged to receive the trolleywire-and :hold the lower: edge. of thezbarLI in alignment with the lower. edgeiof theztrolley wireorsotherwisei aslmay be requiredwhile the r portion of the troll'eywire intermediate theend tips is raised above the slower edgexof the'bar I and outof possibleeontact with; the current collector.

Towadapt. any invention tosupport 1 two trolley wires, as. required in trolley bus operation, I connect twosupports together by insulated members I8 anchored to the plates I-by. meansof boltsl9 through theopenings II and IZrespectively of thejplates'l.

:The installation of my invention comprises supporting the plate 4 and bar I by means of cross span wires anchored to the plate 4 by means of the holes I I and i2 or by other suitable means. The trolley wire is then positioned in the groove 1 and the clevis ends of the bar I and the cotter pins applied. The tips 2 which have open bottom grooves are then applied to the ends of the bar I and to the trolley wire and the tips 2' forming the groove are thus peened about the wire. The deflector bars l5 are now positioned and clamped in place on the trolley wire 8. The bar I may now be adjusted by positioning the stud M in such opening l3a to l3d inclusive as will bring the ends of the bar in substantial alignment with the trolley wire to meet the angle formed by the trolley wire. The curvature of the bar I should be adjusted as far as possible to bring the ends of the bar I and tips 2 into tangency with the trolley wire 8 at the ends of the tips 2.

The greater the curvature of the bar I, the less the portion of the circumference of the circle covered by the bar, and vice versa, and by altering the position of the stud 14 in the openings l3 the curvature and length in degrees of the bar may be changed within the predetermined limits.

The opening I3 may be made into a single elongated slot if desired; however, I prefer the plurality of openings as shown, and the stud M may be rotatable or nonrotatable relative to the plate.

I do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A trolley wire support for use on a curve in an overhead system, comprising an elongated strain plate, an elongated flexible curved bar of rectangular cross-section adapted to guide a current collector along its lower edge, means attached to the bar adjacent its longitudinal center and cooperating with the strain plate whereby the bar is attached to the strain plate, a plurality of means on the plate adapted to cooperate with the said means on the bar whereby the position of the bar may be. changed along the longitudinal axis of the plate and the curvature of the bar changed whereby the ends of the bar are brought into tangency with the adjacent trolley wire, means on the plate to attach thereto supporting means for the plate, means on the plate to receive and anchor the trolley wire to the plate and means at each end of the bar to receive the trolley wire and hold it in predetermined relation to the bar.

2. A trolley wire support for use on a curve in an overhead system comprising an elongated strain plate, means associated with the plate to receive a continuous trolley wire, means to anchor the trolley wire against longitudinal movement relative to the plate, an elongated bendable bar attached to the plate in longitudinal adjustable relation to the plate, the lower edge of the bar adapted to guide a current collector, means at each end of the bar to receive and hold the trolley wire, the adjustability of the bar relative to the plate permitting thelongitudinal axis of the bar at the ends of the bar and the longitudinal axis of the trolley wire to be made substantially tangent.

3. A trolley wire support for use on a curve in an overhead system comprising, a strain plate, means on the plate to receive supporting means for the plate, means on the plate to receive a continuous trolley wire, a curved bar attached adjacent its longitudinal center to the plate in adjustable relation thereto and adapted to guide a current collector, means at each end of the bar to receive and hold the trolley wire in predetermined relation to the bar, means attached to the late, one on each side of the plate and projecting therefrom and arranged to grip the trolley Wire to prevent its longitudinal movement relative to the plate and to prevent a flying trolley pole head wedging between the bar and trolley wire after the support has been installed.

4. A portion of an overhead trolley system at a curve comprising, a strain plate, means on the plate to receive supporting means for the plate, means on the plate to receive a trolley wire, a curved bar attached to the plate adjacent the longitudinal center of the bar, means at each end of the bar to receive a trolley wire and hold it in fixed relation to the bar and a continuous trolley wire positioned in the last said means and in the said means on the plate and projecting longitudinally from the ends of the bar, the trolley wire and the plate and the bar forming triangular openings on each side of the plate and means extending between and attached to two of said parts forming the openings to reduce the area of the openings and prevent the entrance of a trolley head.

5. The combination with an elongated plate like member provided with a plurality of openings intermediate its ends and a curved yoke portion at one end to receive a trolley wire, of an elongated bar bent to a predetermined curvature and adjustable to other curvatures and having means adjacent its longitudinal center cooperating with one of said openings to secure the bar to the plate and means at the ends of the bar to attach the ends of the bar to the trolley wire, the curvature of the bar depending upon which of said openings the first said means cooperates with.

6. The combination with a trolley wire forming part of a curve of an overhead trolley system, of a strain plate with means to receive supporting means for the same, a curved seat associated with the plate to receive a portion of the trolley wire, elongated means extending longitudinally of the plate, a bendable bar to guide a current collector and provided with means cooperating with the said elongated means whereby the bar may be secured to the plate in acljustable relation thereto and means to attach the ends of the bar to the trolley wire.

'1. A strain plate for a trolley wire support and pull over for use on a curve of an overhead trolley system comprising, an elongated body member of plate-like formation, means on the plate to receive supporting means for the plate, a saddle portion with a convexly grooved seat at one end of the plate to receive the trolley wire, the said seat extending in opposite directions from the longitudinal center of the plate and means intermediate the ends of the plate to receive attaching means on an elongated bendable bar in movable relation to the plate in a longitudinal direction of the plate whereby the curvature of the bar may be changed to align the ends of the bar longitudinally with the trolley wire.

8. A strain plate, for use with a trolley wire on a curve of an overhead trolley system comprising, an elongated body member of plate-like formation, a saddle portion with a convex seat at one end of the plate'to receive the trolley means.

Wire, the said seat extending transversely in opposite directions from the longitudinal center of the plate and means intermediate the ends of the plate along the longitudinal center line of the plate to receive attaching means on an elongated curved "bar in adjustable relation to the plate whereby the curvature of the bar may be changed to bring the ends of the bar and the adjacent trolley wire into tangency.

9. A trolley wire support for use on a curve in an overhead trolley system comprising, an elongated strain plate, means at one end of the plate to receive a continuous trolley wire, an elongated bar attached to the plate and bendable to dilferent radiiof curvature, the lower edge of the bar adapted to guide a current collector over a portion of the system, means at each end of the bar to receive and hold the trolley wire and the ends of the bar in predetermined relation and means on the bar cooperating with means on the plate whereby the center of the bar may be moved longitudinally of the plate and thereby change the curvature of the bar to bring the ends of the bar into tangency with the trolley wire at the ends of the bar.

10. In combination, a continuous trolley wire forming a portion of a curve of an overhead trolley system, a strain plate attached to the trolley wire, a bar bendable to different radii of curvature and adapted to guide a current col lector over a portion of the system, means at each end of the bar to attach it to the trolley wire at spaced points thereon to support the ends of the bar in predetermined relation to the wire and means on the bar cooperating with means on the plate whereby the .bar and plate may be secured together and the point of attachment of the bar varied relative to the plate along a line normal to the axis of the bar to adjust the curvature of the bar.

11. A support for a continuous trolley wire to support the wire at three spaced points comprising, an elongated member having means at one end to receive and support the wire at one of said points and elongated curved means of bendable material to guide a current collector thereacross and having portions at each end to receive and support the trolley wire at the other two points, a third means associated with the elongated member and cooperating with one of the first two said means whereby the distance between the first two said means may be varied along the longitudinal aXis of the elongated member to vary the curvature of the said curved 12. A trolley wire support for use in a curve in an overhead trolley system comprising an elongated plate-like member, means on the plate to receive a continuous trolley wire, a curved bar attached to the plate at a point substantially central of the bar and adapted to guide a current collector along its lower edge, the curvature of the bar being adjustable, means on the plate cooperating with means on the bar permitting adjustment of the bar longitudinally of the plate whereby the curvature of the bar may be altered, and means at each end of the bar to receive and hold that portion of the trolley wire adjacent to but beyond the bar with its lower edge in sub stantial alignment with the guiding edge of the bar and to hold the ends of the subtended portion of the trolley wire raised above the guiding edge of the bar whereby the current collector may pass smoothly from the wire onto the bar and vice versa,

13. A device for supporting andmaintaining the separation and insulation of a pair of trolley wires forming a part of a curve of an overhead trolley construction comprising, a pair of spaced and curved flexible members, the curvature of which may be adjusted at will to meet requirements, strain means formed of a plurality of parts extending at right angles to the curved members and to which the curved members are attached, some of the parts forming the strain means constituting insulating means whereby the curved members are insulated from each other, the strain means also provided with means to which supporting means for the device may be attached, the strain means being also provided with means cooperating with means on the curved members whereby the spacing between the curved members and the curvature of the flexible members may be adjusted and the strain means and the curved members secured together after ad- Justment and means associated with the curved members to receive and hold the trolley wires in predetermined relation to the curved members.

14. A support for a trolley wire forming a part of an overhead trolley system comprising, an elongated strain member, an elongated curved member with means for attachment to the trolley wire at spaced points, means on the said curved member adjacent its longitudinal center cooperating with means on the strain member to secure the curved member to the strain means 7 member :with their longitudinal axes substantially at right angles and whereby the point of attachment of the central portion of the curved member may be moved longitudinally of the strainv member to effect a change in the curvature of the curved member, means associated with the device to receive the trolley wire intermediate its points of attachment to the curved member and means associated with the strain member to receive supporting means for the support.

15. A flexible support for a trolley wire forming a part of an overhead trolley system, comprising an elongated strain plate provided with means for attaching supporting means thereto, an elongated curved bar of bendable material, means at each end of the bar to receive and hold the trolley wire in predetermined relation to the bar, means intermediate the ends of the bar for securing the bar to the plate, means associated with the plate to receive and grip the trolley wire intermediate its points of attachment to the ends of the bar, the last two means being spaced apart along the longitudinal axis of the plate and one of the last two said means being adjustable along the longitudinal axis of the plate whereby the curvature of the bar may be varied and the ends of the bar brought into tangency with the trolley wire.

16. A flexible construction for a pair of trolley wires in an overhead trolley system comprising, a pair of plate-like devices, a pair of flexible curved members subject to curvature change having running surfaces along the lower edges thereof, means securing the devices and flexible curved members in fixed relation, insulating means for holding the said devices in spaced and insulated relation, means for attaching the trolley wires to the devices and to the flexible members, each device provided with means whereby the point of attachment of the flexible member thereto may be varied and thereby alter the curvature of the flexible members to bring the ends into tangency with their respective trolley Wires.

17. A strain plate for use with a trolley wire forming part of a curve of an overhead trolley system comprising, an elongated member, means on the member to receive supporting means therefor, means on the member to receive the trolley wire and elongated means extending longitudinally of the member substantially along its longitudinal center line and opening through the member to receive attaching means on an adjustable curved bar whereby the position of the bar may be changed longitudinally of the memher to change the curvature of the bar and bring the ends thereof into alignment with the trolley wire.

SAMUEL S. MATTHES. 

